Chapter 197: Why Are the Clones So Strong?

“Because what you killed were living, breathing people. We clones may have grown too quickly during our creation to develop normal emotions, but we’re not robots.”

George noticed something was off with Accelerator’s mental state and decided to go straight for the heart:

“You’re nothing but a cruel murderer. If you hadn’t killed them, they would’ve gradually developed emotions, just like me, and lived their own lives.”

Killing the Academy City’s top-ranked esper right now was clearly unwise. George still hoped to live openly in the city alongside the remaining clones. Thus, sensing the cracks in Accelerator’s psyche, he immediately sought to exploit them.

If Accelerator willingly abandoned the experiment, it would be a win-win. If not, George could always kill him later—he couldn’t risk leaving a future threat alive.

“So… they weren’t just puppets.”

Accelerator lowered his head, his expression collapsing into despair. A crushing sense of guilt washed over him, making him wish for death.

“Legilimens!”

While Accelerator was defenseless and mentally shattered, George took the opportunity to use the Legilimency Spell to peer into his memories.

After understanding Accelerator’s thoughts, George felt optimistic about his chances of resolving the situation.

But just as he was about to discuss their next steps with Mikoto Misaka, a green electric blast suddenly shot toward him from afar.

Sensing the danger, George swiftly dodged, and the electric blast narrowly missed him. It hit a row of shipping containers behind him, punching through four of them before dissipating—a display of terrifying power.

“Well, this is a surprise. A clone actually managed to defeat the number-one-ranked Accelerator? Looks like those rankings aren’t worth much after all.”

A haughty voice rang out as Mugino Shizuri approached, green energy spheres hovering around her.

“So, you’re Clone #9981? Be a good girl and don’t resist, or you might end up damaged.”

“Who are you people?”

Mikoto Misaka, supported by Clone #9982, walked up to George and frowned at Mugino.

Mugino smirked condescendingly. “We’re ITEM, a black ops unit. We’ve been hired by the Pathology Analysis Institute of the Mizuhashi Organization to capture Clone #9981.

“Oh, and I’m Mugino Shizuri, a Level 5 esper known as Meltdowner, ranked fourth!”

“Is this because my unusual behavior attracted attention?”

George furrowed his brow slightly.

“Looks like getting Accelerator to abandon the experiment isn’t enough. I’ll have to make these people fear me too.”

“Accelerator has already been defeated. The Level 6 Shift Experiment is no longer viable. Why do you still want to capture her?”

Mikoto, trying to muster her powers, only managed to produce small sparks of electricity after exhausting herself in her fight with Accelerator.

Mugino chuckled mockingly.

“That’s none of my concern. I don’t know anything about this so-called plan. ITEM’s task is simply to capture her. You’d best step aside.

“Although I’d love to fight you, you’re in no condition to make it worth my time.”

“Don’t worry, you rest. I’ll handle this.”

George stopped Mikoto from stepping forward and faced Mugino himself.

“If you want to take me, let’s see if a Level 5 like you has what it takes.”

“Hah! A mere Level 4 clone? Just because you blindsided Accelerator, you think you’re hot stuff? Don’t overestimate yourself.”

Mugino gracefully adjusted her purple dress and sat on a nearby rock. She turned to two of the three women behind her and said, “Kinuhata, Frenda, you two handle this. Make sure not to kill her; it’d complicate things.”

Kinuhata Saiai, a Level 4 esper, could manipulate nitrogen in the air. Offensively, she could flip cars and deflect bullets; defensively, she could form a nitrogen armor to block attacks.

Frenda Seivelun, though a Level 0 with no esper powers, was agile and highly skilled with self-made explosives, making her a challenge even for most Level 4s.

With their combined abilities, taking down a mere Level 4 clone should’ve been child’s play.

“Leave it to us!”

Frenda pulled out a custom handgun and fired at George, while Kinuhata donned goggles and propelled herself toward George at high speed using nitrogen manipulation.

The bullet sped toward George but stopped a meter from him.

With his mastery over magnetism, nothing—not even missiles—could touch him.

“Bang!”

The moment the bullet stopped, it exploded into a blinding flash of light.

“Not your average bullet. That’s my special flash round!” Frenda said smugly, hurling doll-shaped bombs to surround George.

Meanwhile, Kinuhata, wearing her goggles, closed the distance. Taking advantage of George being “blinded,” she aimed a punch at his chin.

With nitrogen boosting her strength, her punch could overturn a car.

To her shock, George, eyes shut, swiftly raised a hand and caught her punch with precision.

“Not bad strength,” George remarked, visibly impressed.

The punch had been a challenge for him to block despite his enhanced physique from multiple worlds.

Being blinded didn’t matter to George; his psychic abilities allowed him to “see” his surroundings perfectly.

“Now it’s my turn!”

Violent electricity erupted from George’s body, surging through Kinuhata’s arm.

George intentionally refrained from using his magic to avoid exposing too many abilities.

For now, everyone believed him to be an unusual Misaka clone. The invisibility power could be explained away, but magic, with its conspicuous magical circles, would raise too many questions.

George wasn’t sure whether magic even existed in this world. If it did, how would Academy City view it? If it were hostile, he could find himself hunted by the entire city.

Not that he couldn’t escape—spells like Apparition or Dimension Mirror would let him vanish easily—but doing so would distance him from Mikoto, potentially missing key events and his chance to grow from Level 4 to Level 5.

“He blocked it?!”

Kinuhata realized the danger of close combat and quickly retreated, forming a nitrogen shield around her to block the electric current.